Finished the Incubator!

I wanted to extend some more thanks to everyone who offered their input on my earlier incubator related questions. We finally put everything together today, so I thought I would post of pictures of the in between steps we took and the finished product. It was a lot simpler than I expected it to be. All that is left is to put in the shelves (We are going to used the shelves that came with the wine coolers) and hook up the thermostat.

First, we had to clean everything:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g.../Incubator.jpg

Then we removed the light and taped the remaining fixture out of the way:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Incubator1.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Incubator2.jpg

Then we installed the flexwatt, and just ran the cord out the bottom corner of the cooler. The seal doesn't seem to put much pressure at all on the cord, though if it seems to cause any issues we plan to just cut away a small strip of the insulation on the door. This is also where we plan to run out thermostat probe in:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Incubator3.jpg

And the two finished products:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/g...Incubator4.jpg
Any thoughts or comments or suggestions are welcome.Thanks for looking!

I like it.. very clean for a DIY aswell

Those are neat. Where did you get them?

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Originally Posted by temec

I like it.. very clean for a DIY aswell

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Thanks!

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Those are neat. Where did you get them?

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Got them for $30.00 each on craigslist. I had been watching the local adds for something cheap to use as incubators for a while. They came with the shelving and were actually still working wine coolers. We almost felt bad not using one for its intended purpose. Still, we are guessing we can get 5-6 egg tubs in each, and the flexwatt was relatively cheap. The flexwatt came from Reptile Basics. Altogether I would say it was a great deal, and it only took us about 45 minutes to thoroughly clean them and install the heat tape.

You may want to think about installing a fan to circulate the air and eliminate any thermal layering.
-Steven

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Originally Posted by stevenkeogh

You may want to think about installing a fan to circulate the air and eliminate any thermal layering.
-Steven

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Thanks, we thought about installing a fan. If we did, would you recommend one of the small computer type fans? Also, would you just sit it int he bottom of the incubator facing up or mount it somewhere inside?

I would recommend a 3" computer fan from Radio Shack. Anything bigger and it would create too much heat.

I use a 4" model of the same fan for my large glass-front cooler(about 6ft high). I will be putting another in at the bottom facing up for more air circulation. There's already one installed at the top facing down.

Get one 3" for each incubator and install it in the top pointing down. Just wire it to a normal extension cord(the male end) and plug it into a regular outlet. They work fine. The fans should run around $12-$15 each.

Very nice pair you have there. You've done exactly what I did, watch craigslist and found what you needed. The most costly part of mine was the Helix thermostats but they are very worth it! Congrats!!!

Couldn't she install the fan where the light was, since wiring is already there?

Good job. What a great find too.

You can fill them with wine when there aren't any eggs in them.

You know, to celebrate all the successful hatchlings.

Bruce

Looks good. :gj: I use the same type of setup. Mine is a converted old stand up freezer. It is huge, and works great.

Yeah, you could mount it where the light was. But you would need to rewire it. Don't use the existing wire.
Find yourself an adaptor that meets the requirements of the fan and you are all set.
Make sure you mount it on something so that it is not flush, you will need to have air behind the fan to circulate properly.
I mounted my fan on the bottom to push air up from the heat tape. But I also have a lift top and flexwatt on the floor of the unit only.
-Steven

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Originally Posted by stevenkeogh

Yeah, you could mount it where the light was. But you would need to rewire it. Don't use the existing wire.
Find yourself an adaptor that meets the requirements of the fan and you are all set.
Make sure you mount it on something so that it is not flush, you will need to have air behind the fan to circulate properly.
I mounted my fan on the bottom to push air up from the heat tape. But I also have a lift top and flexwatt on the floor of the unit only.
-Steven

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Any circulation is good! Though I personally use the fan at the top. The reason I do so is Heat rises naturally and the Warm air collects in the top of the incubator. If you mount the fan at the top blowing down it sucks the warm air directly from where it is collecting at the top. It circulates the warm air that collects at the top back down throughout the incubator. If you mount the fan on the bottom you are trying to push the warm air at the top out of the way from a distance.

you know if really worried about he air why not run a pip along the back corner top to the bottom for the fan to pull hot air down adn use it to help mix and create a airflow aroud the tubs of egg and if the humidy is an issue hadve the fan so itr blows the warm air accross the water ( in a bowl or something) to help keep humid..

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Originally Posted by mechnut450

you know if really worried about he air why not run a pip along the back corner top to the bottom for the fan to pull hot air down adn use it to help mix and create a airflow aroud the tubs of egg and if the humidy is an issue hadve the fan so itr blows the warm air accross the water ( in a bowl or something) to help keep humid..

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Good Call.... That was actually part of my design plans for the next one which I plan to build soon.

looks good but if your looking for ideas i woud drill a hole in the back and run the cord out the back and use expanding foam in the hole to seal it. or even epoxy

Very cool, they look great :salute:

Looks great. Can't wait to see what comes out of them. I'm looking for a standup freezer right now to make into a incubator.